A multi-head machine can sew the same design on several pieces in one cycle. It does not make artwork preparation, hooping, or inspection disappear. Pricing those activities separately gives a more useful comparison than dividing the entire order cost by the head count.
Count the heads used for this job
Enter occupied heads, not the machine’s theoretical capacity. A six-head machine using four heads is a four-head run for this model. Mixed designs, separate color sequences, and garments that cannot run together should be priced as separate jobs.
Sewing minutes = cycles × (stitches ÷ effective speed + stops per cycle)
Rounding to full cycles matters near quantity boundaries. A final partial cycle occupies the machine even when some heads are empty. A small reject allowance may add a cycle; inspect that effect rather than assuming a perfectly full run.
Compare the same sample on one and four heads
| Sample 24-piece job | 1 head | 4 heads |
|---|---|---|
| Budgeted cycles | 25 | 7 |
| Sewing time | 6h 23m | 1h 47m |
| Paid operator time | 3h 10m | 2h 1m |
| Cost-based unit price | $17.50 | $15.00 |
This comparison holds every rate—including machine hourly cost—constant to show the effect of head count alone. In a real comparison, enter each machine’s actual ownership, maintenance, power, and labor assumptions.
Keep handling visible
The model charges handling minutes per attempted piece and setup once per order. Paid sewing attention is an allocation of labor cost during sewing. It is not an instruction to leave a machine unattended or a replacement for the manufacturer’s operating requirements.
The serial elapsed-time estimate adds setup, handling, and sewing time. It does not simulate overlapping work, staffing queues, hoop availability, drying, or maintenance. Use shop scheduling records before promising a delivery date.
Price savings after measuring them
Use an identical design and material in a real timed trial. Compare handling, stops, machine utilization, and rejected garments. Replace the sample inputs with those observations, then test a volume price that keeps the margin you want.